Turning a blank page into a piece of engaging and sophisticated content is a tough task. There are some days where the amount of creativity spilling out of you is utterly ridiculous, and your swift typing fingers can hardly keep up with your ideas. Then there are days where you can’t seem to think of a solid concept, let alone write it down.
Often, when writer’s block gets the best of me, I stare at my laptop for far too long. In reality, every writer experiences writer’s block at some point, the only difference is that each person handles it in a unique way.
Before throwing in the towel or freaking out, here are 5 tips on how to cope, manage, and beat writer's block when writing for your business. Some methods may work for you and some may not, but there are plenty of different ways to make writing and creativity your friend again.
1. Take a walk, jog, or run
When you sit and write for extended periods of time, it’s easy to become tired and lose your focus. You might experience writer’s block as a result of too much or too little stimulation. At times, too much stimulation while writing can be distracting and not enough can inhibit your imagination.
Stepping outside to take a walk will give you fresh air, increase your stimulation and creativity, and according to many scientists, even help your brain grow. Surrounding yourself with nature can help you relieve stress, sprout new ideas, and release some positive energy! Whether it’s a stroll around the block or a run far, far away from your laptop, embrace the outdoors and outrun writer’s block!
2. Crank up Spotify
It’s true not everyone can listen to music and focus on writing simultaneously. Personally, lyrics become quite distracting to me when writing technical content. But when there’s simply not another word to write down, upbeat music and a catchy melody can bring out some spectacular ideas and get you past that writing roadblock. Listen to the song that inspires you most or the one that brings out a strong emotion.
Taking some time to crank up the tunes can lift your mood, increase your focus, and shift your brainwaves to evoke emotions that will help you write high-quality content. When you feel as though you cannot write another word, enjoy the music and sing at the top of your lungs (don’t be afraid to embarrass yourself in the process)!
3. Take a shot... of espresso
Feeling exhausted and trying to write are two things that don’t mix well. Putting an extra shot of espresso in your cup of joe while you’re writing can give you the needed boost to be alert and creative. I'll be honest, I am a much happier writer now that I have an espresso machine at home!
While you shouldn’t go overboard on the coffee (although sometimes, it’s hard not to), a moderate amount of caffeine does the body good! It can benefit you by decreasing fatigue, increasing focus and concentration, and elevating physical, motor, and cognitive performance. Goodbye writer’s block, hello delicious coffee!
4. Indulge in chocolate
Staring at a blank page is defeating. When you’re faced with writer’s block or simply need a break from your content, don’t forget to treat yourself! There’s nothing better than taking a break to savor some sweet chocolate (or other yummy snacks if you don’t like chocolate... in which case we can’t be friends ;)).
I’ve had countless days where there is so much work to be done that time flies, and all that’s in my system is a large cup of coffee. As good as it feels to be productive, it’s important to fuel your body to get all of the work done! While you probably shouldn’t always turn to chocolate, fueling your body shouldn’t be overlooked. Remember to eat normal meals, have a few healthy snacks, and indulge in a treat every once in awhile!
Bon appetit!
5. Write literally anything
I’ll admit this may not be my favorite piece of advice, but if absolutely nothing else has worked, give this one a try! There are times where this may be the only tactic you have left, and you may be surprised by how well it works.
I admire this quote by Jodi Picoult, “You might not write well every day, but you can always edit a bad page. You can’t edit a blank page.” So no matter what it is, even if it’s only related to your topic by a thin thread, take a leap and write it down. Having something written down allows you to hear how it sounds and you can begin to craft something even better - it can only grow from there! Oh, and wait to edit your content! Don’t try to edit it as you go - do a bit of freestyle writing and come back to review it another day. Just get those ideas flowing!
Sometimes you need to take a break from the project you’re struggling with and write about something completely different. Get creative - write a poem, write a personal blog post, or write in your journal. Whatever it is, the act of writing about something else may clear your mind and leave you inspired.
Writer’s block sneaks its way into all of our lives at one point or another, but next time you will have the tools and strategies to escape its dreadfulness and crank out some excellent work!
Do you have your own unique strategies to beat writer’s block? We’d love to try them out. Fill us in by sharing in the comments below!
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